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  • #1

    Do finer lancets make a difference?

    Hi. I am mom to Cooper, a nearly 11-year-old Westie who was diagnosed with diabetes almost 2 weeks ago. Today we tried to do the blood glucose curve test at home, which our vet encouraged us to do. He said the test at the vet is very expensive (although I'm not sure how much.)

    We've been trying to test Cooper's blood using the AlphaTrak2 monitor with the 28 gauge lancets that came with it but we've only been successful 3 times in 2 weeks. We bagged doing his curve today because we couldn't get a good enough sample after 3 tries this morning and Cooper, who is the sweetest dog ever, doesn't fight you for anything, started to fight back and try to get away from us (I feel awful that we're not better at this!)

    I was wondering if using a finer gauge lancet would make a difference/be less painful for him? From reading this post http://k9diabetes.com/forum/showpost...2&postcount=13 I saw that a 33 gauge is available. Has anyone used that fine a lancet?

    If we can't make this easier on him I'm just going to have the vet do the curve. We've mastered shots and the shots don't seem to faze him at all, the blood tests--between the prick and the beep the meter makes, Cooper is one unhappy pup

    Any advice is appreciated!
    Best,
    Kathleen
    Cooper is an 11-year-old Westie. He weighs 22lbs and eats V-dog, which is anti-inflammatory for his arthritis. He was diagnosed Diabetic in July 2014. He takes Humulin NPH.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

    Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you are having troubles getting enough blood to test.

    Actually I've gone in the opposite direction with the lancets. I've been using 25 gauge, and just recently 21 gauge lancets. The theory is that the thicker lancets make a slightly bigger hole and makes testing easier. I seem to remember when I was using the skinny lancets years ago I'd frequently need to poke Annie multiple times to get a blood sample.

    Where are you trying to test?

    Craig
    Annie was an 18 pound Lhasa Apso that crossed the rainbow bridge on 10-5-17. She was nearly 17 years old and diabetic for 9½ years.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

      Hi Craig.
      Thanks for the swift reply! We're trying to test using the vein on the outside edge of his ear. That's where the vet showed me to do it. Where do you test Annie? I just wish there was a way to make this as painless as the shots seem to be.

      Also, do you use the little pen for the lancet or do you just use the lancet itself? I'm thinking the next time we try, not using the pen. Not being able to feel it hit because of the pen might be part of the problem.

      Thanks again.
      Best,
      Kathleen
      Cooper is an 11-year-old Westie. He weighs 22lbs and eats V-dog, which is anti-inflammatory for his arthritis. He was diagnosed Diabetic in July 2014. He takes Humulin NPH.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

        Originally posted by coopersmom View Post
        Hi Craig.
        Thanks for the swift reply! We're trying to test using the vein on the outside edge of his ear. That's where the vet showed me to do it. Where do you test Annie? I just wish there was a way to make this as painless as the shots seem to be.

        Also, do you use the little pen for the lancet or do you just use the lancet itself? I'm thinking the next time we try, not using the pen. Not being able to feel it hit because of the pen might be part of the problem.

        Thanks again.
        Best,
        Kathleen
        I also test Annie on the ear, the same location you are aiming for. The first few months were really rough on Annie & me, sometimes I would have to give up! What really upset me was that when I was having trouble I'd call my wife, Linda, to help and she would get a nice blood droplet on her first try! I aim for JUST behind the front edge of the ear and haven't had many problems for years (knock on wood). Only a few test on the ear, seems most use the inner lip but Annie's mouth is too small, or my hands are too big. I have a small battery powered grooming razor that I use every week to clear fur from the area I test. Years ago I also smeared a pinpoint amount of Vaseline over the area and that helped the blood to form a "ball" and not flow into the surrounding area.

        For years I just held the lancet between my fingers and poked, but last year I tried the lancing tool and have been using that. I have the lancing tool set to the maximum setting, and press firmly before "clicking". I hear different devices might poke a little deeper than others, but I've just used the one that came with the meter kit.

        Strangely, Annie doesn't react to the actual poke, but sometimes moves her head when I put the test strip to the blood droplet! "Come on dad, we're done!"

        Craig
        Annie was an 18 pound Lhasa Apso that crossed the rainbow bridge on 10-5-17. She was nearly 17 years old and diabetic for 9½ years.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

          Originally posted by CraigM View Post
          Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you are having troubles getting enough blood to test.

          Actually I've gone in the opposite direction with the lancets. I've been using 25 gauge, and just recently 21 gauge lancets. The theory is that the thicker lancets make a slightly bigger hole and makes testing easier. I seem to remember when I was using the skinny lancets years ago I'd frequently need to poke Annie multiple times to get a blood sample.

          Where are you trying to test?

          Craig
          21 gauge lancets. Could you elaborate on the brand and lancet device you are using?

          Thanks!
          Skipper the Schipperke, 8 yrs old | 17#, diagnosed May 17, 2014 | Insulin Novolin N | Food; W/D dry w/minced chicken in mornings, W/D dry at night w/chicken broth | BG meter; AT2

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

            Hi Craig,
            Really appreciate hearing about your experience with Annie. I think we'll keep trying, maybe try the bigger gauge lancet. I'm going to give Cooper a break for the day (this morning was traumatic enough.)
            Thanks again!
            Best,
            Kathleen
            Cooper is an 11-year-old Westie. He weighs 22lbs and eats V-dog, which is anti-inflammatory for his arthritis. He was diagnosed Diabetic in July 2014. He takes Humulin NPH.

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

              Originally posted by Highland Piper View Post
              21 gauge lancets. Could you elaborate on the brand and lancet device you are using?

              Thanks!
              These are the 21 gauge lancets I'm currently using http://www.amazon.com/Sunmark-Lancet...+gauge+lancets

              I've also used 25 gauge bought from Amazon and really haven't seen any difference.

              I use the lancing device that came with the AlphaTrak, but these should fit any(?) device except maybe the ACCU-CHECK SOFTCLIX / MULTICLIX and ONETOUCH DELICA. Here's a partial listing of standard lancing devices http://www.relion.com/diabetes/lancet-compatibility/

              Craig
              Annie was an 18 pound Lhasa Apso that crossed the rainbow bridge on 10-5-17. She was nearly 17 years old and diabetic for 9½ years.

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

                One last question: how often do you test? Have you found that once Annie got used to it/you got better at it, it was less of an ordeal? Our vet indicated that once Cooper is under control we won't need to test as much b/c his food is so regulated.
                Cooper is an 11-year-old Westie. He weighs 22lbs and eats V-dog, which is anti-inflammatory for his arthritis. He was diagnosed Diabetic in July 2014. He takes Humulin NPH.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

                  Originally posted by Highland Piper View Post
                  21 gauge lancets. Could you elaborate on the brand and lancet device you are using?

                  Thanks!
                  This is the tool I use. It comes with two caps, the clear cap apparently allows a slightly deeper poke. I use the clear cap.
                  http://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/f...-device_62.htm

                  Of course other devices are probably just as good, but you asked which one I use.

                  Craig
                  Annie was an 18 pound Lhasa Apso that crossed the rainbow bridge on 10-5-17. She was nearly 17 years old and diabetic for 9½ years.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

                    Originally posted by coopersmom View Post
                    One last question: how often do you test? Have you found that once Annie got used to it/you got better at it, it was less of an ordeal? Our vet indicated that once Cooper is under control we won't need to test as much b/c his food is so regulated.
                    We test before each meal and sometimes more "just for fun" Annie doesn't really mind because she either gets a treat (frozen green bean), or we play ball for a few minutes afterwards (lives to play ball).

                    I tried to skip testing, but I would sit on the sofa and WONDER what her number was, so I'd get up and test. It's just become habit and I worry if I skip a test.

                    Maybe once every 2-3 weeks I have to poke a second time to get a blood droplet. After I poke, I squeeze around the lanced site to help a droplet to form.

                    This time of year (summer) try taking Cooper outside to get his ear / head warm. If I test Annie after she's been sunbathing she will bleed a river. Actually scared me a few times that I would have trouble getting the blood to stop, and cleaning the dripped blood off the counter

                    Craig
                    Last edited by CraigM; 07-27-2014, 01:01 PM.
                    Annie was an 18 pound Lhasa Apso that crossed the rainbow bridge on 10-5-17. She was nearly 17 years old and diabetic for 9½ years.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

                      We also found that thicker lancets are better than the finer ones. I use the 26G Relion lancets and just hand poke with them. We test on a small shaved area near the base of Piper's tail. It was the only place that she would let us test her, but there are plenty of places you can try. This page has some more information: http://k9diabetes.com/bgtestvideos.html

                      It always does take some practice at first, but you'll eventually find a good method that works, and it'll become an easy routine.
                      Mandy and Piper | Border Collie/GSD Mix | 01/01/2002-10/31/2015 | DX: Diabetes- 09/18/12, Bladder tumor- 09/18/14

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Do finer lancets make a difference?

                        There are lots of places you can test if you want to try somewhere different. See the testing video / picture tutorial page:

                        www.k9diabetes.com/bgtestvideos.html

                        Natalie

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